Since its inception in the autumn of 2005, Passenger Pigeon has become a green fashion favorite among women of all ages and financial means. Heather Schibli and Wendy Trass have created a company appreciated for its intelligent and passionate designs.

Green Living fashion writer Victoria Everman recently spoke with Heather and Wendy about Passenger Pigeon. - GreenLivingOnline.com Editor

The label was previously named Calledyourbluff and was changed to Passenger Pigeon when the brand began using sustainable textiles. Why did the collection change to eco-fabrics? Do you find working with sustainable fibers to be more limiting when coming up with designs?

Wendy: Do we feel limited? Yes and no. In the past we’ve dyed fabric because it only came in beige, and the very reason we use prints so much is because much of the available fabric is quite basic. Working within these limitations means that we have to get pretty creative sometimes, but I think that’s where the charm of our line comes from.

There’s actually a good range of eco-friendly textiles, especially for more casual fabrics like knits and twill. The one thing that we would like to see more of is affordable organic wool and other heavier fabrics for winter. However, it seems every week we get new, exciting swatches from different suppliers. There seems to be a lot happening in the textile industry to develop beautiful, new, sustainable fabrics.

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March 24th — Eggstacular! by Kelly Rand: “Half eaten boxes of marshmallow Peeps; straw from Easter baskets strewn about; slowly coming out of a sugar high; plastic egg halves littering the floor. Does this sound like you and the aftermath of Easter? Feeling a little unsure of what to do with those plastic eggs now that the hunt is over and …”

March 24th — Recycled Plastic: Artist Call for Submissions. by Juliet Ames: “Lark Books is a fantastic publishing company that brought us all kinds of art and craft books including the addictive “500 Series.” Every year they publish 60-70 new titles and invite artists to submit work to be included in future books. They now have a wonderful …”

March 24th — Plastic Egg: It’s Not What’s for Dinner by Autumn Wiggins: “In keeping with this week’s theme of what to do with those pesky plastic eggs, I set out to find a worthy project. My enthusiasm was curbed when I came across reports of lead being found in these things. At the risk of being the antagonist, telling you what not to do with …”

March 25th — Wanna Be On TV? Casting For a New Teen Craft Show by Victoria Everman: “Crafter extraordinaire and co-host of DIY Network’s Creative Juice TV show - Cathie Filian - also has her own production company. With her fellow executive producers Greg Byers and Steve Piacenza, Cathie is on the hunt for teen/young adult crafters to …”

March 25th — Pizza Box + Plastic Easter Eggs = ? by Skye Kilaen (more…)

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea tat to live a greener, healthier life, you have to completely reinvent your ways. But more often than not, lasting change comes by making things simpler, not harder. Instead of thinking about all you should do, try a gentler approach - one that goes back to basics. Reusable shopping bags. Manual can openers. A walk to the corner store. Handmade gifts. A sustainable future doesn’t grow out of a to-do list, but from a desire for the kind of lifestyle that brings us back to ourselves. - Terri Trespicio

Here-here to that, sister! Though it is tough to get away from cleaning the bathroom and doing laundry, most “modern” inventions and products end up making our lives more cluttered and complicated instead of relieving us of senseless stress. Keeping things simple (or at least progressing them towards that end of the spectrum) is the overall theme of Body+Soul Magazine’s April 2008 issue - right in time for Earth Day, of course.

Learning how to kick back and take things in stride is the theme of this issue’s Reader to Reader column (page 20) . In celebration of the premiere of Sundance Channel The Green’s second season on April 1st, Body+Soul is giving away a luxury goody bag (worth over $2,500!) to one lucky reader. All you have to do is reply to this month’s Share Your Wisdom - “When’s the last time you did something out of character, unplanned, or spontaneous? What effect did it have, and what surprise you about the act - or results?” Selected responses will be printed in the August 2008 issue. Visit the Body+Soul website to enter and for more details.

[[ KEEP READING! THE REST OF THE REVIEW IS AT FEELGOODSTYLE.COM]]

That’s right! I’m one step closer to my 2008 goal of breaking into 3 major newsstand magazines - one down, two to go.

My first piece for ReadyMade Magazine appears on page 17 of their April/May 2008 issue, which is all about Green Design. There is also a nice picture and short bio about me on their contributors’ page (page 87).

The issue just hit newsstands in the past few days, so head out and pick up a copy! If you already have a subscription, then keep your eyes open for your issue.

My other favorite articles & projects in the issue: Planet’s Porch (page 39); Bin There, Recycled That (page 40); Deep-Sea LEDs (page 50); Home Spa (page 52); Buying A Better Tomorrow (page 63)

As you can see, this is one kick ass issue!

March 17th - Tools to Use: Knitting Needles by Kelly Rand: “Learning to knit can seem a bit overwhelming, especially if you are familiar with long-time knitters and all of their tools and many needles. At the basic level, all you need to get started is a pair of needles and some yarn. Beyond that there are some very helpful tools to consider and …”

March 17th - Recycled Jewelry: Where Has Your Jewelry Been? by Juliet Ames: “At the heart of the green crafting movement are artists using bizarre materials to make their crafts. I absolutely love making and wearing jewelry made out of unexpected materials. When has a gold heart necklace from the mall ever sparked a conversation in the way …”

March 18th - Top 5 Must-Have DIY Crochet Tomes by Victoria Everman: “Often the second banana to the world of knitting, crochet is steadily gaining more followers thanks to just how easy it is to pick up the hobby. Instead of using two needles, all you need is a ball of yarn and a crochet hook to create everything from toys and toaster covers to …”

March 18th - Artifacts: Caution! You are Entering a Go Spin Zone. by Autumn Wiggins: “It’s a warm sunny day in a quaint suburban park. Children are in line for a turn on the slide, but a bakers dozen have gathered around a picnic blanket under a nearby tree. Puzzled parents suspect a stranger is handing out candy, or has a Spongebob episode …”

March 18th - Fabulous Fabrics: Oliveira Textiles by Skye Kilaen (more…)

Time for another weekly edition of Carnival of the Green, organized by the nifty folks at TreeHugger. Last week, the COTG was hosted by Natural Collection; next week, hosting duties are covered by Conserve Plastic Bags.

LET’S GET TO THE POSTS!

Though a bit late for the holiday, Innstyle Montana offers up tips on how to be green on St. Patrick’s Day.

It was a busy posting week over at LifeGoogles. First up are the 2nd Green Link Love - Other Great Green Sites post and the 9th Fun Green Roundup. Also up this week are two eco-product review posts: one for the Radius Toothbrush and another titled Real Deal Recycled Tarp Hat.

Emmett Duffy from The Natural Patriot says that, “bugs are the key link in food webs,” in his In Praise of Maggots post.

Green Building Elements tells us about a manufacturer who is close to producing glass windows that are “several times more efficient than even the best current windows available,” in their Super Insulating Vacuum Glass post.

By paying just 10% more, you can get a house that uses 90% less electricity and 50% less water, according to Eco Joe’s.

The Tao of Change talks about hunting from an environmental perspective in Hunting 101.

Green Pastures’ post New USEPA Smog Regulation Could Lower Your Health Bills, and Even Save Your Life is great news for asthmatics and outdoor lovers alike.

Green Me features a review of the Ecology Cooking vegan cook book, along with 3 recipes from the book.

The Blue Voice group blog talks about the Vernal Equinox and Bill McKibben’s inspiration writings in the Springing Into The Future post.

Sarah Roe from the Jetson Green blog talks about durable and stylish Many Moons Design’s Reclaimed Handcrafted Furniture this week.

John Beetham, writer of A DC Birding Blog, talks about species protection and its current roadblocks in the Bush Administration Prevents New Listings Under the Endangered Species Act post.

Fake Plastic Fish, a.k.a Beth Terry, features an amusing and educational post titled A Rant on Shaving and the Power of Advertising this week; “I find myself questioning the idea of shaving in the first place,” she says.

If you don’t read the Indie Fixx blog yet, you are missing out on some great stuff! The Indie Fixx blog is an extension of the Indie Fixx online store, started by Jen Wallace and full of “indie goodies from the whimsical to the practical.”

After three years of writing the blog herself, Jen has recruited fellow bloggers to write weekly columns for Indie Fixx.

Guess who got tapped to write the Fashionably Indie column, posted every Friday? Um, yeah … me! (I know, I’m shocked too)

Check out my first post in this ongoing series - I’ve already got over 30 brands to feature, so you’ll be seeing a lot of me on Indie Fixx each Friday from now on.

Know of a small, independent clothing brand that deserves some praise? Leave a comment here or send me an e-mail with their info. If I post about them in my Fashionably Indie column, I’ll give you a mention (and link to your site/blog, if you have one).

Too many Easter traditions are going the way of the evening radio shows and home telephones. Fashionistas everywhere agree we need to keep the custom of a new Easter bonnet alive.

Rebirth through fashion
Worn by girls and women to church services, and the parade that followed, the new Easter hat was often seen as a necessary luxury after the forty-day reprieve of Lent. For the devote, a new hat and outfit symbolized spiritual rebirth (Cleanliness is next to godliness.)

While a drop in church attendance and an increasingly casual society have led to the downfall of this fashionable classic, there’s no reason to avoid an Easter bonnet. No matter your denomination, a stylish hat can make any outfit look more put-together and spring is the perfect time to splurge of a sustainable chapeau.

Nicely knitted
Cozy and chic, knitting or crocheted hats are not only for snowy days. If you don’t have the time to pick up a set of needles and make your own head topper, some of the top chic eco-fashion brands have you covered. Stewart+Brown sells a beautifully unique Peasant Cap with Mongolian cashmere, available in three different colors.

Online shop Dan.K.Forest offers eight different knitted hats made from organic hemp, all for less than $25 each. Also made from hemp, Livity Outernational produces a full collection of urban-savvy beanie with and without rims.

Recycled and ravishing
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Despite all of the progress the environmental movement has made, being both chic and sustainable is still often seen as a frivolous combination. Apparently, growing your own food and wearing stylish, eco-friendly fashions are two separate worlds that we shouldn’t combine.

Not anymore!

Impressively experienced writer Christie Matheson just released her 5th book titled Green Chic: Saving The Earth In Style with Illinois-based Sourcebooks publishing company. Even with the ridiculous influx of eco-living books available in stores, it is safe to say that there is nothing like Green Chic on the shelves. Christie explains it best: “It’s not about buying your way to being green - or just appearing green - it’s about shifting your mindset, changing your attitude, and developing a personal style that is green.”

This is quite a statement to make in a country of citizens who hate to change their personal habits. But if anyone can get through to the superficial yet sustainably curious masses, it’s Christie and Green Chic. Always the thorough writer, Christie personally tried all of her own tips and openly explains the ins and outs of living sustainably and stylish at the same time. Not only is fashion and beauty covered their own chapters, but she also covers: dining, drinking, home, transportation, travel, parties, big and small changes.

It wouldn’t be much of a green book if it wasn’t printed on recycled paper, no? (more…)

March 9th — Put All Your Eggs in One Basket by Autumn Wiggins: “A traditional Easter requires quite a bit of wasteful accoutrement. If you are trying to go green, there’s a lot of ground to cover. Maybe you’re already making preparations to color eggs with natural dyes, or even sprouting your own wheat berry grass for baskets instead …”

March 10th — Mapping It Out by Emma Henderson: “Maybe its because I’m longing for a good holiday or perhaps its just that I love the colours and endless possibilities of maps but I’ve been seeing them all over the place recently. This image forms part of a collection of maps belonging to designer Benita Larson via Poppytalk. I love …”

March 10th — Journals to Check Out by Kelly Rand: “I have about a gazillion journals. They can be found stashed all about my house, so as to be within easy reach when an idea strikes (at least that’s what I tell myself). In truth, my journal collection stems from my inability of locating the journal that I had last put pen to paper. I can never …”

March 10th — Recycled Newspaper Crafts by Juliet Ames: “Here at Crafting in a Green World, we clearly like crafting with recycling paper! Emma’s post on maps and Autumn’s posts on recycling folded paper and Playing Card Bags made me want to risk the paper cuts to craft. I am discovering, through writing these blog posts, that I am …”

March 10th — Green Crafter Highlight: Meet Sweet Pepita! by Juliet Ames: “Even our littlest crafters deserve hip eco-friendly clothing, and that is exactly what you will find at Sweet Pepita. This green crafter extraordinaire dropped her metal smithing tools for a sewing machine after the birth of her daughter Pepita, in an effort to make …”

March 11th — Green Pop Shop at Poppytalk Handmade by Victoria Everman (more…)

Just who is that guest? Me!

Maureen, founder and fantastic writer of the green blog Alternative Consumer, asked if I would be interested in being a guest blogger. Two words: hell yeah! With a barrel full of ideas, my first post for AC went live today.

Head on over to Alternative Consumer and let me know what you think. While you’re there, make sure to browse through the rest of the many entries that Maureen has written over the past year and a half.

Know of a great eco-conscious product for sale either online or in stores? Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me directly about it. If I feature it in my next Alternative Consumer guest post, I’ll give you credit in the entry - woohoo.

No matter how much I “green” my lifestyle, I can’t get away from the fact that I adore fashion. In all my 23 years, I’m still not able to explain just what it is about clothing that draws me to it, but the passion is undeniably there. With all of the eco-fashion options abound these days, it is clear that I am not the only person clamoring for sustainable style and that’s a damn good thing.

Combining my adoration for eco-fashion and high quality style, today marks the start of a new post series here on Victoria-E.com called Eco-Fashion Euphoria. In this ongoing series, I’ll be introducing you to the brands that make me want to max out my credit card and dance in the streets. Established or new, big time or locally known - there is no limit to what collections will be covered, except for the fact that they have to be sustainable in some way (renewable fibers, fair trade, local production … etc.)

The designer that inspired the beginning of this new series is Lizzie Parker. Don’t be shocked if you haven’t heard of her yet; I was introduced to her designs just last year, thanks to Portland Fashion Week. Before starting her Seattle-based fashion company, Lizzie worked in the tech industry for big businesses such as Microsoft. Thankfully for all of us, her passion for style and design took over and now the Lizzie Parker line will soon be introducing its 5th collection.

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My writing hits the Most Huggable list again! This time, my entry on the Poppytalk Handmade marketplace from Crafting a Green World. If you haven’t heard of Poppytalk Handmade, now is the time to check it out because this month’s theme (March 10th to April 11th) is all about green.

The winner of the Victoria-E.com/FutureNatural giveaway is … Kathryn Rile! A big CONGRATULATIONS to Kathryn, who also happens to be founder of Pogo Design, a nifty graphic design firm that has worked with a number of small businesses.

Thank you to everyone who entered and thank you to FutureNatural for offering up some of their delectable items. I plan to have more contests and giveaways in the near future, so stay tuned to Victoria-E.com!

Are you getting sick of my little intros? If so, leave a comment and let me know. If enough folks say “yes”, then I’ll simply provide you good readers with the Crafting a Green World weekly collection of posts.

March 2nd — Artifacts: Tune In, Turn On, Tie Knots. This is Macrame. by Autumn Wiggins: “Yes, I know what you’re thinking…plant hangers and googly eyed owls…haha. Make fun all you want, but you’ll be overlooking one of the most sustainable, inexpensive, and meditative craft techniques out there. I’ve tried …”

March 3rd — Recycled Glass Art by Juliet Ames: “I am having such a great time discovering artists using recycled materials in their crafts. I was so excited about this recycled glass artist, I could barely wait until Monday to share it with the CAGW readers! John Bassett has been making these amazing glass panels and …”

March 3rd — Tools to Use: Scissors by Kelly Rand: “Another thing to consider when crafting with an environmental conscious are your tools and what they are made from. Tools made from recycled or sustainable materials are out there and available for use. One of the first items on any crafter’s list is a good pair of scissors …”

March 4th — Join BurdaStyle’s First Mini Sewalong Challenge by Victoria Everman: “Looking to add some spice to your Spring wardrobe? Need a new creative project to work on? We introduced you to Burda Style during the early days of our blog. Now its time to share the details for their first mini-challenge for all the …”

March 4th — Fabulous Fabrics: Organic Cotton from Mod Green Pod by Skye Kilaen (more…)